Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1263 by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003, how many schools in each local authority area have been used outwith school hours for purposes other than education or associated services in each year since 1999.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Access for Disabled People

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1263 by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003, whether the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be met for service providers using a school for purposes other than education or associated services when Part III comes into effect on 1 October 2004.

Peter Peacock: From 1 October 2004, where a school is being used for purposes other than education or associated services it is the duty of the service provider to meet the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. In relation to these services the school or education authority does not have a duty under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Access for Disabled People

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1263 by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003, when improvements to the physical environment of schools and other places where school education is provided, as planned by the initial accessibility strategies prepared under the Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records (Scotland) Act 2002, will be completed.

Peter Peacock: Initial accessibility strategies plan for improvements to be implemented in access to the curriculum, physical access and access to school information for a period of up to three years. All subsequent accessibility strategies will cover three-year periods so improvements to accessibility will continue.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has conducted into the impact of classroom assistants on pupil attainment and what the results of any such research have been.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive commissioned the Scottish Council for Research and Education (SCRE) in January 2000 to undertake an evaluation of the classroom assistant initiative.

  The evaluation had three main aims. These were to:

  explore the association between pupil attainment and the use of classroom assistants comparing different models of deployment;

  determine whether the Initiative enabled better utilisation of teachers’ time, and

  document the effects of the Initiative on classroom interaction and the learning experiences of pupils.

  SCRE published their report More than an Extra Pair of Hands in October 2002.

  A copy of the full report can be obtained from http://www.scre.ac.uk/resreport/rr111/index.html.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that teacher training takes into account alternative teaching styles and classroom organisation in preparation for the reduction of class sizes to 25 in P1.

Peter Peacock: Through the National Framework for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) we are encouraging existing teachers to identify their professional developmental needs and to undertake appropriate training to meet those needs. Prospective teachers will receive appropriate training for the environments they are likely to encounter.

  However, many teachers already possess the skills required to teach in smaller classes as more than 60% of all P1 classes already contain 25 or fewer pupils.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what academic research it has conducted into the views and attitudes of pupils on the delivery of reduced class sizes and what further research it will conduct in this area.

Peter Peacock: We are unaware of any research on pupils’ views and attitudes to class sizes. We are currently considering future research options regarding the impact of class sizes but we have not yet agreed the scope or specification of the research.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what academic research it has conducted into the views and attitudes of pupils in composite classes and what further research it will conduct in this area.

Peter Peacock: We have not conducted research into the views and attitudes of pupils in composite classes and have no such plans. It is unclear why the views and attitudes of children in composite classes should differ from those in other types of class formations.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it will conduct into the impact of composite classes on (a) pupil attainment and (b) teaching practices.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED) commissioned The Scottish Council for Research and Education (SCRE) Centre in Glasgow University to review the research literature on composite classes in 2002. Copies of that report are available at:

  http://www.scre.ac.uk/cat/1860030734.html.

  The SCRE paper concluded that:

  "…it seems reasonable to conclude that, at least in Europe, there is no evidence to show that composite classes affect pupils’ academic performance adversely. It is possible that pupils may gain socially from the experience and show non-cognitive benefits which to date have not been quantified."

  Currently we have no further plans to commission research into the impact of composite classes on pupil attainment or teaching practices.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities on managing the transition from class sizes of 25 in P1 to class sizes of 30 in P2.

Peter Peacock: Any guidance that is judged helpful will be issued, if required, in advance of local authorities being expected to reduce class sizes. However, the transition between P1 and P2 is a matter for individual education authorities taking into account the needs of their schools and pupils. In addition authorities already have experience of the transition of classes of 30 in P3 to classes of 33 in P4.

Firearms

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29433 by Mr Jim Wallace on 1 October 2002, when it will next attend a meeting of the reconstituted Firearms Consultative Committee and whether the Executive will make any representations to the committee and, if so, on what areas of concern.

Cathy Jamieson: The next meeting of the Firearms Consultative Committee is planned for mid September. A Scottish Executive official is a member of the Committee and is due to attend that meeting. The committee does not disclose details of the business it carries out at individual meetings. Instead, as required by Section 22 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, it prepares an annual report on its work which is submitted to the Home Secretary. That report is then published, usually around the end of each year.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to alter the status of those areas currently closed to sandeel fishing; whether it will give the number and nationality of any vessels that are currently allowed to fish these areas on licence and the number of vessels that are allowed to fish them at any one time, and whether it will list the areas currently closed to sandeel fishing and the timescales for these closures.

Ross Finnie: Within EU waters, sandeel fishing for commercial purposes is specifically prohibited at all times by the Wee Bankie (Firth of Forth) area closure, required by Paragraph 10 of Annex V of EU Regulation (EC) 2341/2002. This closure expires on 31 December 2003 unless - as is expected - a continuation of it is otherwise agreed. In order for scientists to monitor the effects of the Wee Bankie restriction, a limited sandeel fishery is allowed. The fishery is managed at the discretion of a scientific monitoring team, which comprises both Scottish and Danish scientists. The Scottish Executive does not hold administrative details of the monitoring programme centrally.

  As a requirement of the Total Allowable Catches and Quota regulation, which lasts for only one year, the Wee Bankie closure needs annual re-agreement in Council. The Commission has proposed to include the Wee Bankie fishing restrictions in a new technical conservation regulation, intended to replace Regulation (EC) 850/98 (as amended). This inclusion would allow for an extended period of closure at Wee Bankie. The Scottish Executive supports the Commission’s proposal.

  There are other sea areas where fishing for sandeels is indirectly prohibited. The Scottish Executive does not hold details of such closures centrally.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to legislate to ensure that women can access pregnancy termination services free from harassment by anti-abortion campaigners.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is unacceptable that any woman exercising her right to seek a legal abortion within the Abortion Act 1967, or to ask for the prescription of legally licensed emergency contraception, should be obstructed or intimidated. However, there is already provision in Scots law for redress against harassment. Section 53 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 currently makes it an offence for two or more persons to obstruct the lawful passage of others in a public place and to fail to move away on being required to do so by a constable in uniform. The common law offence of "breach of the peace" may also cover any type of behaviour which causes alarm and distress that may arise from groups gathering together. Enforcement would be a matter for the police.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the New Housing Partnership programme in Renfrewshire has been since the programme’s inception, broken down by expenditure category.

Ms Margaret Curran: Information on the New Housing Partnership funding received by Renfrewshire Council since 1997 is set out as follows:

  


£371,000 
  

To support a number of housing improvement projects. 
  



£402,818 
  

Feasibility study for seven priority areas and provision 
  of advice to tenants. 
  



£2,135,378 
  

Renewal project in Miller Street, Johnston.

Pollution

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address light pollution of the night sky.

Ross Finnie: Road lighting is often identified as one of the main sources of light pollution. At present both the Executive and local authorities work to the relevant British Standards for road lighting installation and employ technologies which take full account of advances in efficiency and design. All trunk road lighting schemes are also designed in accordance with the best practice guidance set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges . The objective is to provide lighting which achieves night-time road safety objectives whilst minimising adverse environmental impacts and intrusion. All new and replacement trunk road lighting is of a less polluting type which offers superior control of the emitted light, giving a reduction in the amount of light spillage into the night sky.

  Planning controls can also play a part in reducing light pollution from other types of lighting schemes. Where there is a proposal for which a planning application is required, the planning authority may take action to mitigate the potential adverse effects of any external lighting. This might include imposing suitable planning conditions to prevent or minimise light pollution.

  In addition to the above framework, one of the commitments in the Partnership Agreement is to reduce light pollution and save energy by specifying appropriate lighting standards. The Executive intends to develop and publish guidance on public lighting which will meet these aims.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Secretary of State for Scotland was consulted before the decision was made not to grant a public inquiry on the Robin Rigg wind farm.

Lewis Macdonald: The Secretary of State for Scotland was not consulted about what is a devolved matter.

Scottish Executive Ministers

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland to update and publish the Scottish Ministerial Code and A Guide to Collective Decision Making .

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Ministerial Code and the Guide to Collective Decision Making have been up-dated and will be published today. The Scottish Ministerial Code , which was last revised in February 2002, provides a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for members of the Scottish Cabinet and Junior Scottish Ministers. It underlines our commitment to working in partnership with the Scottish Parliament and has been revised to reflect the Partnership Agreement and recent changes in procedure and terminology. The Guide to Collective Decision Making sets out the principles of collective decision-making and the principles and procedures to be followed to ensure effective conduct of business. It too has been up-dated to reflect the Partnership Agreement and changes in procedure and terminology since it was last revised in June 2002.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Peter Peacock: Parliament will be aware that the SQA has again delivered the examinations round successfully. I have written to Sir John Ward congratulating him and the other members of the board and staff of SQA.

  It is important that the SQA ensures that the momentum in restoring full confidence in the examination system is maintained and that the quality assurance procedures in place are as rigorous as they can be to maintain standards. I have made clear to the SQA that I expect them to drive forward the development of their quality assurance procedures as a means to further underpin renewed confidence in the exams system.

Teachers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1253 by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003, how much funding was allocated in order to meet its target of recruiting 1,000 teachers by 2002 and whether this funding was also delivered through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Peter Peacock: The commitment to recruit 1,000 additional teachers was met through Excellence Fund programmes for Education Authorities. Advice offered to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) on the number of teachers required reflected this commitment. Specific funding for additional teacher training was not separately identified within the overall level of grant in aid to SHEFC.

Teachers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1253 by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003, how much funding will be allocated to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in order to train 2,800 teachers by 2007.

Peter Peacock: The requirement to increase the teacher workforce to 53,000 by 2007 will require additional teachers to be trained. The precise number can only be identified through the annual teacher workforce planning exercises that will take place between now and 2007. Funding will be made available to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council as appropriate.